JODHPUR/BARMER: Multiple APRC champion and Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill along with his co-driver Musa Sharif were booked for their alleged involvement in an accident during Round 3 of the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 30km from here on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of three people on a motorbike.
The family of three—Narendra Bhati (42), Pushpa (40) and their son Jitendra (15)—died on the spot after being hit by Gill’s Mahindra Adventure car travelling at around 150 kmph when they entered the active race area.
Balotra DSP Chug Singh Sodha told TOI that an FIR under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been registered against Gill at the Samdari police station. “The FIR has been registered against Gill, Sharif and organisers of the event (Maxperience). No arrest has been made in the case yet,” he said. Additional SP Khinv Singh said that Gill and Sharif were booked on the basis of their name painted on the car.
The FIR has also named organisers Maxperience along with FMSCI, JK Tyres, Mahindra and MRF Tyres for alleged negligence leading to the deaths.
Meanwhile, Gill’s whereabouts are unknown after organisers confirmed on Saturday that he was admitted to a local hospital suffering from mental trauma and respiratory issues. Attempts to reach out to him failed as his mobile phone was switched off.
Taking cognizance of the incident, the Ashok Gehlot government has removed Barmer district collector Himanshu Gupta and superintendent of police Shivraj Meena. The state government has also directed Jodhpur divisional commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit the findings within seven days.
“According to preliminary report, no permission was issued for the rally and neither was there any safety arrangements in place. Taking a strong note of this, district collector Himanshu Gupta and SP Shivraj Meena have been put under APO (Awaiting Posting Orders),” read a statement issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO).
The family members of the deceased along with the natives of Hotarda village went on an agitation for more than 30 hours refusing to take the bodies for cremation, seeking the arrest of the accused and suspension of police officials for negligence. They also demanded Rs 2 crore as compensation along with employment in the Rajasthan government for the kin of the deceased.
They only agreed to take back the bodies after Gupta intervened and assured them of justice. When last reports came in, the bodies were cremated by the family members as per Hindu rituals after post-mortem, the findings of which are yet to emerge.
Further, in a clear departure from what the organisers had claimed, the preliminary investigation into the accident revealed lapses in safety measures taken by local organisers Maxperience, based out of Gurugram. Maxperience went ahead with the race without official permission from local authorities though they had sought approval for conducting the race on August 27, a copy of that letter is in possession with TOI.
Barmer district collector had in fact shared the details of the September 20-22 race with the local police too but the latter took it very casually. They neither sought direction from the collector on the matter or spoke to organisers for the scale of arrangements and number of personnel required for conducting the race.
Flouting the FMSCI guidelines, local organisers also failed to create a 30-second video about the rally and its route and broadcast it several times in nearby areas 15 days prior to the event continuously. Contrary to the organiser’s claims, the entire route did not have caution tapes and buntings at intersections, even signboards at every kilometre were also missing.
Hakam Singh Ajit and Pankaj Pratap Singh, who led the agitation, said that no announcements were made on loudspeakers to inform people in adjoining villages.
“There was no information about the rally and the organisers did not put in enough efforts to make the public aware about the race. There were no police personnel or enough race marshals along the route to stop the people or cattle from entering the race area,” Pankaj Pratap and Hakam Singh said.
Vamsi Merla, part of the promoters Champions Yacht Club, put the onus on local organisers for the mishap.
“If anybody has to take responsibility for the incident, it’s Maxperience. They should have stayed to deal with the consequences of the situation. We stand with the family of the deceased. It’s bad that three people were killed due to their negligence,” Merla told TOI.
The family of three—Narendra Bhati (42), Pushpa (40) and their son Jitendra (15)—died on the spot after being hit by Gill’s Mahindra Adventure car travelling at around 150 kmph when they entered the active race area.
Balotra DSP Chug Singh Sodha told TOI that an FIR under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been registered against Gill at the Samdari police station. “The FIR has been registered against Gill, Sharif and organisers of the event (Maxperience). No arrest has been made in the case yet,” he said. Additional SP Khinv Singh said that Gill and Sharif were booked on the basis of their name painted on the car.
The FIR has also named organisers Maxperience along with FMSCI, JK Tyres, Mahindra and MRF Tyres for alleged negligence leading to the deaths.
Meanwhile, Gill’s whereabouts are unknown after organisers confirmed on Saturday that he was admitted to a local hospital suffering from mental trauma and respiratory issues. Attempts to reach out to him failed as his mobile phone was switched off.
Taking cognizance of the incident, the Ashok Gehlot government has removed Barmer district collector Himanshu Gupta and superintendent of police Shivraj Meena. The state government has also directed Jodhpur divisional commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit the findings within seven days.
“According to preliminary report, no permission was issued for the rally and neither was there any safety arrangements in place. Taking a strong note of this, district collector Himanshu Gupta and SP Shivraj Meena have been put under APO (Awaiting Posting Orders),” read a statement issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO).
The family members of the deceased along with the natives of Hotarda village went on an agitation for more than 30 hours refusing to take the bodies for cremation, seeking the arrest of the accused and suspension of police officials for negligence. They also demanded Rs 2 crore as compensation along with employment in the Rajasthan government for the kin of the deceased.
They only agreed to take back the bodies after Gupta intervened and assured them of justice. When last reports came in, the bodies were cremated by the family members as per Hindu rituals after post-mortem, the findings of which are yet to emerge.
Further, in a clear departure from what the organisers had claimed, the preliminary investigation into the accident revealed lapses in safety measures taken by local organisers Maxperience, based out of Gurugram. Maxperience went ahead with the race without official permission from local authorities though they had sought approval for conducting the race on August 27, a copy of that letter is in possession with TOI.
Barmer district collector had in fact shared the details of the September 20-22 race with the local police too but the latter took it very casually. They neither sought direction from the collector on the matter or spoke to organisers for the scale of arrangements and number of personnel required for conducting the race.
Flouting the FMSCI guidelines, local organisers also failed to create a 30-second video about the rally and its route and broadcast it several times in nearby areas 15 days prior to the event continuously. Contrary to the organiser’s claims, the entire route did not have caution tapes and buntings at intersections, even signboards at every kilometre were also missing.
Hakam Singh Ajit and Pankaj Pratap Singh, who led the agitation, said that no announcements were made on loudspeakers to inform people in adjoining villages.
“There was no information about the rally and the organisers did not put in enough efforts to make the public aware about the race. There were no police personnel or enough race marshals along the route to stop the people or cattle from entering the race area,” Pankaj Pratap and Hakam Singh said.
Vamsi Merla, part of the promoters Champions Yacht Club, put the onus on local organisers for the mishap.
“If anybody has to take responsibility for the incident, it’s Maxperience. They should have stayed to deal with the consequences of the situation. We stand with the family of the deceased. It’s bad that three people were killed due to their negligence,” Merla told TOI.
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